Intersectional Inequalities: STEM and Non-STEM Student Pathways in College

• In Event: 47.096 - MTCC Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: 47.096-8 - College Enrollment and Experiences in STEM

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a longitudinal, mixed methods project that compares intersectional differences in students’ experiences pursuing STEM degrees with peers in other majors. Our comparison uses the first wave of interviews with a diverse interview-based sample of 37 students at Southern University, along with quantitative institutional data from the same campus, to identify how students navigate pathways to degree completion from varying social positions. We examine how individual orientations and institutional practices concurrently influence underrepresented students’ achievement, persistence, and career trajectories, particularly in STEM fields.

Authors

• Sarah M. Ovink, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• William Carson Byrd, University of Louisville

• Megan Nanney, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University